"If you want to eat kibbeh, go to Le Sajj, one of Chawki’s favorite restaurants in Bay Ridge and an excellent choice for special occasions. Chawki recommends first-timers order the “Lebanese Garden” to start, which will give you a taste of several classic mezzes like hummus, tabouleh, and grape leaves.They have three types of raw kibbeh as well as a few baked and fried options. The pumpkin kibbeh is delightfully crisp and packed with herbs and spices, but you should also take the opportunity to try the kibbeh nayeh, a pile of raw minced beef mixed with bulgar and herbs that’s traditionally eaten wrapped in a bit of flatbread and garnished with raw onion, mint, and olive oil. The kafta khishkas—a sort of Lebanese meatball dish served on a bed of rice pilaf—is exactly what Chawki means when she means that this kind of food is “spiced, not spicy.”" - carina finn koeppicus
